Unless you're in Tokyo (or the greater Kanto region), where the etiquette is to stand on the left and pass on the right.
It's not about walking on the escalator because you're late, it's about increasing the throughput of the elevator. If there is no rule regarding this, the natural tendency is for people to stand alternatively left and right, so there will be unused space throughout the escalator. by forcing standing people to one side frees up this space, and of course the walking people increase throughput as well.
However, I did hear that this method is particularly punishing on the machinery, due to the fact that weight is unbalanced most of the time, and it also increases the danger of clothing being stuck. The woes of super-crowded east asian urban life I guess.
It's not about walking on the escalator because you're late, it's about increasing the throughput of the elevator. If there is no rule regarding this, the natural tendency is for people to stand alternatively left and right, so there will be unused space throughout the escalator. by forcing standing people to one side frees up this space, and of course the walking people increase throughput as well.
However, I did hear that this method is particularly punishing on the machinery, due to the fact that weight is unbalanced most of the time, and it also increases the danger of clothing being stuck. The woes of super-crowded east asian urban life I guess.